Williamson backs Little on her return from injury

Leah Williamson has backed Kim Little to fire Arsenal to SSE Women’s FA Cup glory this season after a year out with injury.

Little, who was the first ever PFA Women’s Player of the Year in 2013, has been out for 12 months with a serious knee injury, forcing her to miss Euro 2017 with Scotland last year.

But she made her return in the FA Cup fifth round win against Millwall on Sunday and will provide Arsenal with a major boost in the final third of the campaign.

The Gunners have drawn third-tier side Charlton Athletic at the home in the quarter-finals next month, avoiding defending champions Manchester City and fellow big guns Chelsea.

And Milton Keynes ace Williamson, who helped conduct the draw alongside team-mate Alex Scott live on BBC Radio 1Xtra, is excited to see Little back as Arsenal bid for a 15th FA Cup.

“She is a fantastic addition for us. She has been watching us and was upset to see us not have a good start to the season,” she said.

“It is amazing to see Kim back, she is a world class player and to have her back on the pitch is fantastic for us.

“She has been very professional in her rehab, I have never seen anyone be so positive despite everything she has gone through so for her to be back fit is great.

“Hopefully she can add something.”

It has been a season of two halves for Arsenal, with a poor start to the season costing manager Pedro Martinez, who guided them to Cup success in 2016, his job.

Since then they have recovered impressively and currently sit third in the FA WSL 1 table and are already ready through to the FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup final.

New manager Joe Montemurro has uncluttered their minds and simplified the aims, with the ‘Arsenal’ way firmly back in practice in North London.

“Joe has been very clear with what he wants to do and the way he wants to play. It is very much the Arsenal way so a lot of us home grown players are now playing the football we have grown up with,” said midfielder Williamson, 20.

“Everyone is moving in the same direction and sometimes it just takes a fresh pair of eyes to make a difference and help us.

“The draw against Charlton really good, all we wanted was a home draw and to avoid the top teams and that is what we have got.

“Charlton are not in the WSL so for them to get this far is amazing for them. It will be an unknown going into it.

“We try and prepare professionally every game so we will be lacking a bit of knowledge but I don’t think it will affect us too much.”

Tickets are now on sale for the SSE Women’s FA Cup Final on Saturday 5th May at Wembley Stadium connected by EE. For more information about tickets and SSE’s involvement in women’s football visit www.sponsorship.sse.com